Fire at Ross Hall

[CycloneErik]

I would agree - there was a tiny bit more lipstick on the pig, but not much.

I honestly don't even remember the Vendoland, as it made so little impression on me. I do remember vividly the taxidermy animals up in the History levels (I think it was), however. That was... odd.

I never understood that, either. Z loved them somehow.

 

[Angie]

I never understood that, either. Z loved them somehow.

My kids love the ones at the Vet Med building when they do Boo with ZEW. I don't get it.

 

[beentherebefore]

Not a window in any classroom, I believe. Possibly the most architecturally lacking building on campus, unless one wants an example of early 1970's concrete price efficiency.

 

[beentherebefore]

Not a window in any classroom, I believe. Possibly the most architecturally lacking building on campus, unless one wants an example of early 1970's concrete price efficiency.

But I did meet my wife there.....

 

[JP4CY]

Agree with @Angie . Its a tough building to hang out in.
I had a class in there that utilized a computer lab in the basement. Ooof was it depressing.

 

[jcisuclones]

Maybe, but I think Ross was built or finished in 1974.
I always took it as, well, kinda cheaply done. Function over form, for sure, but only kinda functional, and mostly just bleak and stark.

More recent updates made the building a lot brighter and less dingy. That was good to see.

I’ve always heard that it was supposed to have a few more floors, but they ran out of money

 

[BCClone]

It is basically a grey fortress with smallish windows, so I guess I could see that for sure.



It was honestly a fairly depressing building. It's telling that women would usually go hang out in the bathrooms' lounge areas for someplace with a tiny bit of comfort and personality.

Bathrooms had lounges????

 

[Brandon]

Fire in a janitorial closet.

 

[Angie]

Bathrooms had lounges????

It might have only been the women's? I never went into the men's.

 

[ISU22CY]

Had an english class there in my last semester which was in the summer. Talk about depressing going from the beautiful summer Iowa State campus scenery to the basement of Ross Hall.

 

[BryceC]

Oh, man - so much woodwork in there, too. I hope everyone was okay.

There was? I just remember a concrete box.

 

[BCClone]

Had an english class there in my last semester which was in the summer. Talk about depressing going from the beautiful summer Iowa State campus scenery to the basement of Ross Hall.

If In the basement you could have jumped in the steam tunnel and flew up to Gilman.

 

[Angie]

There was? I just remember a concrete box.

I thought all of the cases and stuff upstairs were? And I seem to remember a bunch around the staircase right by the elevator. But it's been more years than I care to admit since I've been in there.

 

[CycloneErik]

It might have only been the women's? I never went into the men's.

Thanks to having a child, I've been in both. It's just the women's.
Ground floor men's room has a coat rack area and (I think) a wooden bench like the hallways. That's it.

 

[Angie]

Thanks to having a child, I've been in both. It's just the women's.
Ground floor men's room has a coat rack area and (I think) a wooden bench like the hallways. That's it.

I assume that the women's lounge is for pumping and stuff? Although they probably didn't think of that in the 1970s. So never mind that - I assume it was something unnecessarily female-y.

 

[ISU22CY]

If In the basement you could have jumped in the steam tunnel and flew up to Gilman.

I didn't know that...interesting. At one point I had my hands on some the steam tunnel layouts but that was back when I was in school.

 

[BryceC]

I thought all of the cases and stuff upstairs were? And I seem to remember a bunch around the staircase right by the elevator. But it's been more years than I care to admit since I've been in there.

I guess I rarely went upstairs. perhaps it's different up there.

 

[BCClone]

I didn’t know there were classrooms in there. I thought it was all offices. All English and history classes I had were in other buildings.

 

[CycloneErik]

I assume that the women's lounge is for pumping and stuff? Although they probably didn't think of that in the 1970s. So never mind that - I assume it was something unnecessarily female-y.

I like your thoughtful idea. I'm sure it's more stereotypical guy thinking than that, like "well, they go together, so somewhere to sit" or whatever it is we think when we put these things together.

Come to think of it, I don't think Ross has an area set aside for pumping and all. I think someone has to go to Sloss House for the closest one. It's been a few years since I looked it up, though, so a bunch of words from me to say "huh, I don't know."

 

[3GenClone]

I didn’t know there were classrooms in there. I thought it was all offices. All English and history classes I had were in other buildings.

There's at least 1 classroom and/or meeting room on the interior of floors 2-6. Usually reserved for 300-400 level classes.